Roll and ascend up to Heaven

The majestically seated Oracle

Do you want to know before hand whether you would ascend to heaven, the land of bliss (Zangdopelri Zhingkham) or descend down to the hell after you die? Do you wish to know how much misdeeds you have accumulated this life? Do you like to commit that henceforth you would change your actions?

Well, if your answers are all ayes, then visit a place called Zangtherpo in Bumthang. The place is close to the historic and holy Kurje Lhakhang. The site of the oracle (if that’s what is supposed to be called) is located below Zangtherpo Primary School.

The test of emptiness

There is a big rock that sits like a giant fat woman stretching her legs. From distance it resembles a frog that is about to jump. Many pilgrims visiting Bumthang make it a point to visit the famous Zangtherpo oracle.

Testing their deeds

The way is simple. All you have to do is offer some prayers and start to roll a rounded pebble from the top of the big rock and watch if the pebble comes out of the big hole in the rock at the bottom. If you do not succeed in the first attempt, you offer some more prayers and roll again. And if your pebble successfully bounces out from the hole, after swirling in it for a while, then you are considered a pure soul. Pure souls go to heaven. I was told many have succeeded in their attempts.

After prayer comes the rock

But the chances are so slim, which is that of our probability of ascending to the heaven. And unless you are cunningly wise, your pebble would only sink down, like I have carried out before a small crowd of stunned observers. Maybe with some tricks I could after all go to heaven if the oracle is right in its prediction. What amazes me however is the fact this oracle might have helped people become gentler in their actions and a little more considerate to others.

Where they land most of the time

Observers say that some pilgrims commit to carry out numerous religious activities after they visit the site. And that’s not bad at all.

But the big question is will this ancient oracle rock withstand the test of modernity?

Utpal Academy - Bhutan's first All-girls High School

Academic Block Welcome to Bhutan’s first all-girls school. Isn’t that wonderful news to all our parents? Certainly, as a parent of a one-year old daughter I am excited about the coming of a school exclusively dedicated to the needs of girls. Our girls need special treatment, which we can for sure entrust the responsibility to Utal Academy, Paro. Dinning Hall I really like the name – Utpal – in Buddhist world, Utpal is another name for lotus flower, which is believed to grow from mud and yet blossoms into a beautiful and majestic flower. It stands for purity and many deities are depicted holding flower Utpal, more prominently Jestusn Dolma, the Goddess Tara. Symbolically, it also stands for the transformation of our girls. What an apt name for the school! Hostel Room The Principal’s message posted on the academy’s website promises providing our young women an “opportunity to participate fully in a wide range of extracurricular activities to develop skills and qualities that

Community of Bhutanese Bloggers Conceived

And finally it happened. I must say that it was by far the most attended Bloggers Meet. In the past we had bloggers agree to attend and cancel at the very last minute. But on June 24, 2015 – almost 100% of bloggers, who confirmed came. I would like to thank everyone for keeping his/her words, especially those who had to come all the way from Wangdue or Paro. Thank you! 35 Bhutanese bloggers met in Thimphu. We were honored to have the presence of senior bloggers like Aue Yeshi Dorji and Dasho Sangay Khandu. The meeting assumed more significance because of their presence. Equally, we were happy to have many young bloggers in whom we see so much enthusiasm and potential. On top of many things that transpired during the Meet, one of the most significant outcomes was the unanimous decision reached to form a formal group of bloggers, a platform aimed at encouraging and inspiring more bloggers around the country. The members decided that we will call it Community of Bhutanese Blogger

When FIVE is more than FIVE HUNDRED

Bhutanese parents complain that our children are exposed to so much foreign content and that they might soon forget our own root. Some parents also feel that their children respond well and better to stories that have Bhutanese characters and places in them. That's why the need for more and better Bhutanese books in the market. And we have only a handful of people who are committed to making this happen although the financial return is almost none. Bhutan can boast of not many writers. Here writing or publishing aspect of writing is an expensive hobby. In the first place, it is difficult to convince people to publish their writings and many leave it before they are halfway. Publishing is a complicated process. But here it is even more complicated since our publishers are not publishers in the real sense of the term. They would only 'publish' (print) school textbooks and in that they are only being wise - averting risks to their businesses. Recently, the whole

Nawang P Phuntsho

Search This Blog